Attenuated hinge spring assembly

Abstract

An attenuated hinge spring assembly for a trunk lid of an automotive vehicle includes a coiled spring which is connected to a bracket secured to the vehicle, a threaded stud which is secured to the bracket, a plate which is slidably mounted on the bracket and the stud, a nut rotatably attached to said threaded stud and selectively secured to an arm, and a washer which lies between the plate and the nut. The plate lies adjacent to the coiled spring. The arm is pivotally connected to the trunk lid and to the bracket. The spring is connected to the stud and the arm and uncoils as the arm pivots from a lowered position to a raised position to move the lid between a lowered position and a raised position. When the lid is raised, the arm rotates which causes the nut to rotate and translate along the stud, which in turn causes the washer and plate to translate along said stud. The plate moves against the coiled spring and frictionally brakes the spring and the nut to slow the momentum of the lid as the lid is being raised.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hinge spring assembly for a lid, comprising: a bracket mountable in a fixed position adjacent to a lid;   a coiled spring having coils connected to said bracket;   an arm member having a first end portion operatively interconnectable with said lid, and a second end portion operatively inter-connected with said coiled spring for movement of said arm member between a first position and a second position for moving the lid between a closed position and an open position, said coiled spring uncoiling when said arm member is moved between the first position and the second position; and   frictional braking .means for frictionally restraining movement of said coiled spring, said frictional braking means directly engaging a plurality of the coils of the coiled spring when said arm member is moved toward said second position to slow the momentum of the lid as the lid moves to said open position.   
     
     
       2. A hinge spring assembly, as defined in claim 1, wherein said frictional braking means comprises: a threaded stud fixedly secured to said bracket;   an end portion of said coiled spring being attached to said threaded stud;   a plate slidably mounted for movement relative to said bracket, said plate lying adjacent said coiled spring, said plate being operatively inter-connected to said arm member, said plate moving against said coiled spring when said arm member is moved between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
       3. A hinge spring assembly, as defined in claim 2, wherein said frictional braking means further includes a nut rotatably attached to said threaded stud and selectively secured to said arm member, said nut lying adjacent said plate, said nut rotating about and translating along said threaded stud to move said plate against said coiled spring to frictionally brake said coiled spring and said nut when said arm member is moved between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       4. A hinge spring assembly, as defined in claim 3, wherein said frictional braking means further includes a spring washer lying between said plate and said nut, said spring washer being mounted for translation along said threaded stud to move said plate against said coiled spring when said nut translates to frictionally brake said coiled spring. 
     
     
       5. A hinge spring assembly, as defined in claim 3, further comprising an adjusting means connected to said arm member and said nut for adjusting the position of said arm member relative to said nut. 
     
     
       6. A hinge spring assembly, as defined in claim 3, wherein said adjusting means comprises a pin connecting said arm member to said nut, said pin being removable for adjusting said arm member relative to said nut. 
     
     
       7. A hinge spring assembly, as defined in claim 6, wherein said nut further includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures for selectively accepting said pin therein. 
     
     
       8. A hinge spring assembly, as defined in claim 1, for a trunk lid of a vehicle, further comprising: a trunk lid connecting arm member having a first end portion pivotally mounted on said vehicle and a second end portion secured to the underside of the trunk lid, said first-defined arm member pivotally connected to said trunk lid connecting member for movement with said lid between a lowered position and a raised position as said trunk lid connecting arm member and said first-defined arm member pivot between a lowered position and raised position.   
     
     
       9. A hinge spring assembly as defined in claim 8, further including a link member pivotally connecting said first-defined arm member to said trunk lid connecting arm member. 
     
     
       10. A hinge spring assembly for a trunk lid of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a bracket adapted to be secured to said vehicle;   a coiled spring connected to said bracket, said coiled spring having end portions;   an arm member having a first end portion pivotally interconnected to said trunk lid and a second end portion pivotally inter-connected to said bracket for movement of said arm member between a lowered position and a raised position for pivoting said lid between a lowered position and a raised position; said coiled spring having an end portion connected to said arm member for uncoiling said spring when said arm member is pivoted between said lowered position and said raised position;   a threaded stud pivotally connecting said arm member to said bracket, an end portion of said coiled spring being attached to said threaded stud;   a plate slidably mounted on said bracket and said stud, said plate lying adjacent said coiled spring;   a nut rotatably attached to said threaded stud, said stud being fixed against rotation with respect to the bracket, said nut being fixed against rotation with respect to said arm member, said nut and stud biasing said plate against said spring when the arm member is moved between lowered position and said raised position; and   a spring washer on said stud between said plate and said nut for yieldably biasing the plate member against the spring as the arm member pivots between said lowered position and said raised position.   
     
     
       11. An attenuated hinge spring assembly for controlling opening of a lid, comprising: a spring having coils adapted to be anchored adjacent a lid to be controlled;   an arm member interconnected with said spring and adapted to be interconnected with the lid for moving the arm member between a first position and a second position for moving the lid by force from the spring between a closed position and an open position; and   an engaging member responsive to movement of said arm member from said first position toward said second position for directly engaging a plurality of the coils of said spring and attenuating the spring force as the an member moves toward the second position.   
     
     
       12. An assembly as defined in claim 11, which includes: a threaded stud element and a threaded nut element on the stud element, one of said elements being fixed against rotating relative to said spring and the other of said elements being fixed relative to said arm member, said elements being relatively axially translated upon movement of said arm member toward said second position for clamping said engaging member against said spring.   
     
     
       13. An assembly as defined in claim 12, which includes a spring washer on said stud for yieldably clamping the engaging member against said spring.